Chapter 849: Martial Dao to Divine Transformation

The Primordial Pearl suddenly exploded, turning into countless Martial Dao runes that surged into his limbs and bones. At the same time, the dark‑gold liquid on the altar boiled and seeped into his pores.

The two forces collided violently within his body, each clash making his body shudder violently.

Meanwhile, the Mixed Primordial Martial Qi that Yan Buji had cultivated surged to great attainment in an instant, causing Yan Buji's Martial Dao Mark to begin growing wildly!

The Nether God Emperor suddenly raised his hand to form a seal, and a bronze‑colored formation unfolded beneath Yan Buji's feet: "Guard the spirit platform!" His voice thundered in his ears: "The Primordial Pearl is reshaping your foundation!"

Yan Buji felt his consciousness torn in two.

One half endured the excruciating pain of his meridians being reforged, while the other floated high above, overlooking the entire Youming Jie.

"Why does it look like a chicken?"

After seeing the unified whole of Youming Jie for the first time, Yan Buji couldn't help but voice his confusion.

In an instant, his consciousness returned to his body!

After a long while.

When the final chaotic airstream merged into his body, Yan Buji's physique underwent a cataclysmic transformation: in his dantian, the previously depleted Immortal Essence was replaced by a golden river, a concentrated flow of Martial Dao qi; his meridians now coursed with pure blood, as pristine as the first time Martial Cultivation ever wielded qi‑blood in ages past.

The Mixed Primordial Martial Qi, imbued with the true meaning of Martial Dao, settled slowly within Yan Buji's Purple Palace, and four thousand Martial Dao Marks reflected there; at this moment Yan Buji's cultivation had leapt from late‑stage Martial Immortal to the Divine Transformation Realm!

The aberrant Dao Mark in his left eye fully stabilized, turning into a complete azure‑blue rune, somewhat similar to the rune on the Nether God Emperor's antler crown.

The Nether God Emperor suddenly looked to the heavens and laughed, his laughter shaking the surrounding black sand into flight: "What a favor from the Martial Dao! Does the Martial Ancestor intend to seek a successor only after ten thousand ages?"

Yan Wang smiled: "It's all Hall Master's destiny."

Yan Buji remained silent, clenching his teeth as he struggled to control the now‑unruly power!

The leap in Martial Dao realm left Yan Buji momentarily unaccustomed; the Nether God Emperor and Yan Wang, aware that Yan Buji was adjusting, departed, awaiting his emergence from the realm.

Two months later.

Yan Buji finally finished honing his own power, but whether to speak of it or not…

"Indeed, the Path of Unity of Spirit and Flesh can never increase longevity essence," Yan Buji sighed.

After leaving, Yan Buji met the Nether God Emperor and Yan Wang at the doorway.

Yan Buji clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Lord Nether God, and thank you, Lord Yan Wang, for your assistance."

"You're welcome," Yan Wang smiled. "In fact, you brought the Sword that Slays People, which truly helped us greatly."

Yan Buji, hearing this, couldn't help but look at the Nether God Emperor and ask, "Lord Nether God, you…?"

"You already know, don't you?" the Nether God Emperor pointed to his antlers, indicating the resonance of the earlier aberrant Dao Mark: "Back when I was still in the Five Realms, on the brink of becoming a saint, I discovered certain matters and was forced to oppose the sages. As a result I was slain and came to Youming Jie, but fortunately my skill was a step above."

Yan Buji didn't understand what the Nether God Emperor was proud of, but guessed that if this were all a scheme, it probably involved the Heavenly Demon King as well.

It was clear that whether it was Jian Fan, the Heavenly Demon King, or the Nether God Emperor, their goals were likely the same, or even if the goals differed, the tasks they needed to accomplish were probably identical.

For Yan Buji, that was a good thing; at least he didn't have to worry about being sold to the sages as a pawn in the short term.

What puzzled Yan Buji, however, was why Yan Wang chose to intervene.

It couldn't be because he had previously made a deal with Yan Wang; that was merely using a sect's channel and had little to do with Yan Wang personally.

"Lord Yan Wang, why did you save me?" Yan Buji asked directly.

"Simple. You help me, I help you; you don't help me, I'll still help you." Yan Wang smiled.

So… you've taken a liking to me?

Yan Buji, looking puzzled, clasped his hands and said, "Regardless, Lord Yan Wang, I will certainly repay your life‑saving grace!"

"What repayment…?" Yan Wang squinted, looking at Yan Buji. "You're not standing opposite me; that is the greatest repayment to me."

Hm?

Yan Buji furrowed his brows and, tentatively, asked, "Lord Yan Wang, are you referring to the time I didn't help Wu Konghou seize the Huang Tian Soul?"

"That counts. Because you didn't act, my victory was secured. Youming Jie will eventually be unified, but not under the rule of the Starry Sky Sect, rather under the rule of the Underworld." Yan Wang laughed joyfully.

Yan Buji lowered his head, unsure what to say.

Anyway, each of these great figures has their own thoughts; guessing them one by one would be too troublesome.

The Nether God Emperor also spoke: "By the way, since that old Heavenly Demon sent you here, there must be a reason."

Yan Buji recalled carefully, then said, "Lord Nether God… do you know Jian Fan?"

"You should know… Oh right, that girl's Sword that Slays People back‑fired on her qi‑fortune… Jian Fan and I are distant relatives; I once carried a strand of Singing Deer bloodline." the Nether God Emperor said.

"I see…" Yan Buji thought to himself.

Since the Nether God Emperor knows of the Heavenly Demon King's existence, and even knows Jian Fan's matter, even if I have forgotten something due to unavoidable forces, there's no need to trace the origin; we only need to see what their goal is.

At present, Yan Buji still has several questions, which may involve hidden matters or even the sages' grand designs, and he feels he should bring them up.

It's not for any other reason; Yan Buji himself lacks strength, and the Nether God Emperor and the newly appointed Yan Wang clearly have their own calculations and will certainly act.

"When I first came, I met a Singing Deer; I recall that I saved her back then…" Yan Buji recounted his encounter with Xiao Lu and conveyed what she had told him.

The Yan Wang beside him listened oddly, then looked at Yan Buji: "Oh, so you were taken as a vessel."

"Vessel?"

The Nether God Emperor explained: "The fusion of the aberrant Dao Mark with the Singing Deer bloodline is the most extensive experiment to simulate the legendary Fate Great Way. But judging by your condition, the experiment seems to have failed."

Yan Buji was stunned: "Fate law?"

"The old Heavenly Demon wishes to leave the Boundless Abyssal Trench; he must comprehend the Fate Law, otherwise he cannot emerge."

Yan Buji fell silent, realizing that was the case.

"As for that old Heavenly Demon, he probably isn't the same person as before," the Nether God Emperor sighed.

Yan Wang, also curious, asked: "You, Nether God Emperor, also knew the Heavenly Demon King of the Boundless Abyssal Trench?"

"Of course. Who wouldn't know the dragon‑human progenitor who once waged war on the heavens? Alas." the Nether God Emperor waved his hand and said no more.